Rise and fall: Del Potro falls to the floor in celebration at the end of his match with Ferrer (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

It was a classic case of triumph over adversity, a dogged but brutal victory of mind over body.

Juan Martin Del Potro won his enthralling baseline slugfest with David Ferrer and his own Battle of Wounded Knee to progress to the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time and, still to drop a set in the tournament, looked every inch a last- four dangerman.

The eighth-seeded Argentine dispatched his fourth-seeded opponent 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 despite an awful slip in the first game which threatened to deny the Centre Court crowd one of the best matches of the tournament.

At one point, with an LTA doctor called to his chair, the 24-year-old looked in real danger of having to pull out after twisting an already fragile knee, which he had hyper-extended in his previous match with Andreas Seppi.

Shrugging off obvious pain, though, Del Potro was soon back on court and whether it was the natural rush of adrenaline soothing his throbbing joints or a case of ‘give it a go and see what happens’, the world No.8 took positivity to new levels by adopting the more aggressive approach and racing to the first set 6-2 in just under an hour.

Throwing in the towel: Ferrer knows the game is up at Wimbledon this afternoon (Picture: Getty Images)

Ferrer, who had not dropped a set to his rival in their two previous meetings on grass, was – let’s not forget – carrying his own injuries in the ankle and toe departments.

But his own bid to reach the semi-finals for the first time on his 11th Wimbledon appearance suddenly appeared a thankless one as Del Potro maintained the pressure in the second set, taking it 6-4 on his service when the Spaniard misfired a backhand into the net.

Del Potro, who reached the fourth round for the two past years, seemed to grow even stronger in the third, rocking Ferrer with some lethal forehands, although to his credit, his 31-year-old opponent was scampering around like an excited puppy and pulling off some sweet passing shots of his own.

Ferrer had won just one of his last seven meetings against top-ten opposition but was bidding to reach the semi-finals here to complete a set of grand slam last-four appearances – the second Spaniard to do so after Rafael Nadal.

Moving freely: Del Potro is back on his feet against Ferrer (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)

The world No.4, therefore, was never going to go lightly and forced Del Potro to save the set 6-5 down with some seismic serving to force a tie-break.

That only seemed to inspire the Argentine to up the ante, and despite Ferrer pulling back to draw level from 4-1 down in the tie-break, Del Potro ensured he gained revenge over the man who put him out at the last-16 stage last year when he walloped another rasping passing shot to win the best rally of the match and clinch an incredible victory.

Instantly, he fell to the floor out in sheer relief and ecstasy, although considering what he had just put his limbs through again, it may have been delayed agony.